As the CCHA front-office executives and member
teams continue their ongoing efforts to increase the visibility
of one of college hockey's most prominent conferences, more
and more games are seen on television and teams make an
effort to stage some rivalry match-ups at neutral arenas.
Efforts like these — namely the Cold War at Spartan
Stadium in 2001 or annual games between Michigan and Michigan
State at Joe Louis Arena — have drawn an unprecedented
number of fans into the collegiate realm of the game.
CCHA
Notebook
Following
two losses to Michigan last weekend, Garrett Regan
and Notre Dame have a 2-5-1 mark over the last eight
games.
This past weekend, Notre Dame took another
stab at drawing new fans to its resurgent program when it
revisited a chapter of it rivalry with Michigan with a game
at The Palace of Auburn Hills — best known as the
home of the Detroit Pistons. The teams met at the same venue
for four consecutive seasons from 1992-93 through 1995-96,
with the Wolverines winning all four games. But while this
event, a 5-1 Michigan victory, was well intentioned, its
execution left much to be desired.
Because the arena is dominated by basketball
during this time of year, there was little time to let the
ice surface cure. In fact, the sheet sat under the floor
for Friday's game between the Pistons and Sacramento. Combined
with the fact that the game drew just 10,381 fans to an
arena with a capacity of just over 22,000, the contest was
not likely to win over new converts to the college game.
“The game started off pretty slowly,”
Michigan goaltender Billy Sauer said. “There weren't
a lot of fans, so it was hard to get into the game, plus
the ice was pretty bad. Pucks were bouncing around and I
was just trying to keep an eye on them and keep them in
front of me.”
Despite having to overcome the poor ice surface
and disappointing turnout, Michigan coach Red Berenson understands
the importance of these games — especially the visibility
they can provide — and would participate again given
another chance.
“The ice was really bad,” Berenson
said. “In fairness to the Palace, they just put the
ice in a few days ago. [I wouldn't hesitate to play a game
here again], I think this is good for college hockey and
the state of Michigan, for the CCHA. Certainly the Palace
has done a lot in trying to get more college games.”
SEEN AND HEARD IN THE CCHA
Late Goal Gets Irish a Point:
In should come as no surprise, but Miami continued its torrid
pace, going step-for-step with Michigan at the top of the
league with one of its most impressive sweeps of the year,
beating Lake Superior State by 6-1 and 5-0 scores.
And while the Lakers and Alaska, Miami's
opponent this weekend, have both improved greatly in recent
weeks, the looming showdown with Michigan two weeks down
the road is on the minds of the RedHawks as they hope to
seize sole control of the conference from the Wolverines
— both teams have the same amount of points in the
league standings, but Michigan has two games in hand.
“It's going to be a big series and we're
excited about it,” Miami netminder Charlie Effinger
said to the Hamilton Journal-News after getting
the win in goal for Miami last Friday. “At the same
time, these upcoming games [at Alaska] are crucial in order
to put ourselves in a spot where that series means something.
We have to take care of business.”
The RedHawks skate into Fairbanks having split
two previous games with the Nanooks this season, beating
them 3-1 in the series opener in Oxford Dec. 7 before dropping
a 3-1 decision the next night. Recent history sides with
the Nanooks, as the hosts took three points from the vistiting
RedHawks last season. But losing to Alaska at home back
in December seemed to light a fire under Miami, which has
won nine of 10 since that defeat.
Great Weekend Getaway
Michigan
State at Michigan (Fri.)
Michigan at Michigan State (Sat) College hockey doesn't get much better than
this fierce, in-state rivalry. With both teams vying
for the CCHA title, this series promises to be worth
the price of admission. Michigan has been flying all
season, and while the defending national champs have
struggled at times, the Spartans appear to have found
their groove by going 4-0-2 in their last six games.
While you're there: Take a trip
to downtown Detroit to visit the North American International
Auto Show, which runs through Sunday. The show is,
befitting a place called the Motor City, one of the
world's most prominent exhibitions of current and
future vehicles. From the mundane sedans we see on
the road every day to rides costing more than most
houses, the variety helps with practical choices and
dreams alike.
Stick
Salute
In the storied
history of the Michigan hockey program, no team has
ever started the season with a 22-2-0 record —
until now. It's an impressive achievement for any
team, even moreso for one that entered the year with
few veterans, a boatload of freshmen, and a goaltender
whose previous work can be characterized as spotty
at best.
Bench
Minor
As teams make
efforts to promote the well-being of college hockey,
they've got to keep the sport's unique atmosphere
in mind. One of the huge parts of this aura is the
pep band, and in large, neutral arenas, dueling pep
bands. At last weekend's showdown at the Palace of
Auburn Hills, however, Notre Dame refused to allow
Michigan's pep band to attend, despite available seating.
While it was indeed their prerogative as the home
team, it would have added a lot to the atmosphere
to hear a dule between two of college hockey's best
bands.
FRIES AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE BAG
• After turning heads with strong play
during the first half of the season, Bowling Green proved
its success is no fluke by sweeping Western Michigan in
a home-and-home last weekend after the Falcons had lost
six of their last eight games. Back in November, a pair
of wins over the Broncos marked the beginning of a 7-2-0
run for Bowling Green prior to the team's holiday slowdown.
• It's common knowledge that you have
to stay out of the penalty box in order to win, and Western
Michigan learned that lesson the hard way this past weekend.
In their two losses to Bowling Green, the Broncos amassed
more penalty minutes than minutes played (134 penalty minutes
in 121+ minutes of play). Although many of the minutes were
a result of a Friday night scuffle involving both teams,
the Broncos accumulated 34 more minutes than Bowling Green.
• Having notched three points in its
first two series after being embarrassed at the Great Lakes
Invitational, Michigan State managed to stay within shouting
distance of Michigan and Miami by sweeping Ohio State in
Columbus. Heading into this weekend's home-and-home against
the rival Wolverines, the Spartans sit just four points
out of first place — a difference which can be made
up with strong play this weekend.
• As was featured in last week's notebook
— and following in the mold of the Super Bowl-bound
New York Giants — Nebraska-Omaha continued its strong
play on the road with a pair of victories at Alaska. The
Mavericks, who improved to 7-5-0 on the road, take this
week off before heading to Michigan State.
• Northern Michigan sophomore goalie
Brian Stewart has a mediocre 6-10-1 record this season,
but he was the star of an offensive outburst [at least what
amounts to one for NMU] when the Wildcats knocked off Ferris
State 4-1 Saturday. In that game, Stewart made 38 saves,
one night after totaling 35 stops in a 3-2 loss to the Bulldogs.
• While televised games have almost
become the norm for the most prominent schools in the CCHA,
Ferris State and Northern Michigan fans had their moments
of fame, and on national TV, nonetheless. CSTV televised
last Saturday's game between the Wildcats and Bulldogs in
the network's first trip to Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids.
A variety of sources were utilized in
the compilation of this report. James V. Dowd can be reached
at james@insidecollegehockey.com.
Following
two losses to Michigan last weekend, Garrett Regan
and Notre Dame have a 2-5-1 mark over the last eight
games.